Istiqlal Ahmad (Arabic: استقلال أحمد),[1] is a Bahraini actress and media personality of Iraqi origin.[2][3] She was born and raised in Kuwait, but moved to Bahrain following her marriage and stayed there since.

Istiqlal Ahmed
استقلال أحمد
Born (1950-02-12) February 12, 1950 (age 74)
NationalityKuwait
Occupationactress
Years active1975—Present
ChildrenZaid, Sarah, Mounia, Maryam

Biography

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Ahmad was born a few months after Kuwait gained its independence, the source of her first name (from the Arabic word for “independence”).[1] Her brother is the actor Kazem Al-Zamil. She was interested in the arts from an early age, participating actively in school theatre productions. After graduating from high school, she enrolled at the local Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts, majoring in theatre, literature, and criticism.

Performing career

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Ahmad’s first public role was a 1975 teleplay entitled منى (“Mona”), which she starred in at the age of fourteen. However, her breakthrough role was in Darb al-Zalaq, a seminal 1977 satire in which she co-starred with Abdulhussain Abdulredha. This began a string of high-profile roles continuing through the 1988 serial الرجال لعبتهم النقود (“The Men Have Placed Their Bets”), her last role before she left for Bahrain.

Marriage and retirement

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After marrying a Bahraini broadcaster, she left for Bahrain and retired from acting.[4] They had five children, including two sons and three daughters. She continued participating in media, however, and is a broadcaster and published poet.

In 1992, she began co-hosting "صباح الخير يا بحرين" (“Good Morning Bahrain”) with Aisha Abdul Latif. The show had a national reach, and Ahmad would remain an anchor there save for a short withdrawal in 2012.[5][6]

Career

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Television

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Filmography
Year Series or Teleplay
1975 منى (“Mona”), teleplay
1975 الوريث (“The Heir”)
1975 وذاب الجليد (“And the Ice Melted”), teleplay
1975 نورة (“Norah”)
1977 والدي العزيز (“My Dear Father”)
1977 الشمس فوق البطاح (“The Sun Shines on Filth”), teleplay
1977 Darb al-Zalaq
1977 دنيا المهابيل (“Dunya Al-Makhil”)
1977 ابن العطار (“Ibn Al-Attar”)
1977 إجازة أم (“Mother’s Leave”), teleplay
1978 Third Floor
1978 في منتصف الليل (“At Midnight”)
1978 بنت البادية (“Badia Girl”)
1979 الحظ والملايين (“Luck and Millions”)
1979 وعندما تحترق الشموع (“And When the Candles Burn”), teleplay
1980 Salamtak, special
1982 النساء لعبتهن الألوان (“Women Have Played Colors”)
1983 Khalti Gmasha
1983 غدا تبدأ الحياة (“Life Begins Tomorrow”)
1983 ألبوم صور (“Photo Album”)
1985 حكاية خلف الجدران (“Story Behind the Walls”)
1988 الرجال لعبتهم النقود (“The Men Have Placed Their Bets”)
2019 Ana Andi Nuss

Theatre

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Acting career
Year Play Dramatist
1976 The Victim of Prosperity Saad Al Faraj and Abdulhussain Abdulredha
1976 عالم غريب غريب غريب (“Strange, Strange World”) Tariq Abdul Latif
1978 Sinbad the Sailor Mahfouz Abdel Rahman
1978 Groom to the Sultan’s Daughter Mahfouz Abdel Rahman
1983 توم وجيري عفوا جسوم ومشيري (“Yassim and Mishar Pardon Tom and Jerry”) Fahd Al-Sultan
1983 أفراح والشجعان الثلاثة (“Afrah and the Three Heroes”) Khalifa Al-Rabiah
1983 Fursan Al Manakh Abdulhussain Abdulredha
1984 فرحة الأمة (“The Nation’s Joy”) Abdulhussain Abdulredha
1984 الشاطر حسن (“Good Boy”) El-Sayed Hafez and Mohamed Gaber
1985 Ali Baba’s Trial El-Sayed Hafez and Mohamed Gaber
1985 حديث الديرة (“Hadith Deira”)
1987 Antarah ibn Shaddad El-Sayed Hafez and Sami Al-Faraj
1987 برشامة (“Rivet”) Abdelaziz El Moslem

Radio

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Broadcasting career
Year Show
1992—Present صباح الخير يا بحرين (“Good Morning, Bahrain”)
2008 الجيران (“Neighbors”)

Film

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Filmography
Year Film
1982 القرار (“Decision”)

Awards

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She won the 2008 Best Actress in a Radio Drama award in Cairo for her role in الجيران.

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References

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  1. ^ a b "استقلال احمد .. زهره جديده للمسرح فى الكويت". Al-Seyassah. December 18, 1975.
  2. ^ Al-Kayyal, Khaled (January 2, 2010). "فنانات تركن النحومين واعتزلن بهدوء". Al Yaum. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  3. ^ "فنانون وفنانات غابوا عن الساحة.. و لا يزالون في ذاكرة الجمهور". September 28, 2012. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  4. ^ Najm, Abdul Sattar (February 21, 2010). "استقلال أحمد: حزينة.. لأن قلة من زملائي يتذكرونني". Annahar (Kuwait). Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  5. ^ Fereydoun, Sawsan (November 21, 2012). "استقلال أحمد تعود إلى "صباح الخير يا بحرين" بعد إعلان انسحابها". Al Ayam. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  6. ^ Al-Anzi, Hammoud (November 4, 2007). "ممثلات ومطربات اعتزلن الفن ولكن أعمالهن خالدة ولا تعتزل". Al Rai (Kuwait). Archived from the original on September 19, 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2020.